“Drinks cold in the fridge at DH!” Leaked post from Gina Coladangelo, Matt Hancock’s assistant turned lover, raises questions over Health Department’s celebration of ‘Covid test target’ at height of lockdown in May 2020
- A huge stockpile of Covid messages between government figures has been leaked
A leaked post from Gina Coladangelo, Matt Hancock’s assistant turned lover, has sparked questions about whether there was a Health Department celebration at the height of the Covid lockdown.
The massive amount of messages obtained by the Telegraph reportedly includes a message sent by Ms Coladangelo on May 1, 2020, apparently to a group of officials.
She applauded that the government had ‘smashed’ its target of increasing Covid testing capacity, saying: ‘Drinks cold in the fridge at DH. Feel free to open them before we get back.’
Ms Coladangelo – a non-executive director of the department at the time – added an emoji of two clinking beer glasses.
Mr Hancock gave the daily Covid briefing in Downing Street that evening, and the message was apparently sent while it was still in transit.
Sources close to the ex-health secretary said he was not present, but “people were drinking at their desks in a socially distanced manner, after hitting a high-profile target.”
They insisted there was “no evidence of parties in the department.”
The sheer volume of messages obtained by the Telegraph includes a message sent by Ms Coladangelo on May 1, apparently to a group of officials
Mr Hancock gave the daily Covid briefing in Downing Street that evening, and sources say he was not present as some staff were ‘having a drink at their desks in a socially distanced manner’
A government spokeswoman did not respond to the specific question, but said: “We have always said there are lessons to be learned from the pandemic.
“We are determined to learn from the findings of the Covid inquiry, which will play a key role in informing the government’s planning and preparations for the future.”
At the time, no social gathering was allowed unless it was “essential for work purposes.”
The Metropolitan Police issued fines for the infamous Downing Street ‘BYOB’ rally on May 20, 2020. However, the May 1 event is not thought to have been considered by police or in Whitehall’s Sue Gray report.
Shadow Secretary Wes Streeting said: ‘These reports raise a number of questions about the behavior of Conservative ministers during the lockdown, including whether there was even more drinking and partying going on than is already known.
“There can’t be one rule for them and another rule for everyone else.
“The families of those who have died during the pandemic deserve the truth.”
Lib Dem health spokeswoman Daisy Cooper said: ‘These revelations look like yet another insult to the sacrifices made by the British public during the lockdowns.
“The allegation that another illegal gathering may have been covered up is deeply concerning. Rishi Sunak must ensure that these revelations are investigated without delay – with no stone unturned.
“The Conservative government has lost all credibility over the years of sordid stories coming out.”
Mr Hancock and Mrs Coladangelo leave Downing Street after the press conference on 1 May 2020
